Oil and Gas symposium postponed for a year, next one in 2014

Northern Rockies Regional Council
Minutes of a Regional Council Meeting
October 9th, 2012
Follow up on provincial electoral boundaries
It was moved that the Province of BC be requested to re-examine and revise the provincial polling divisions in the NRRM so that all residents living within NRRM rural areas that are closer to the NRRM urban town site (Fort Nelson) than other polling divisions can vote as a resident voter in the Fort Nelson polling division; and further that the Provincial Government be requested to remedy this issue and ensure that the NRRM statistical information from provincial voting jurisdictions accurately reflects people living in the region including being counted as a resident voter within the surrounding town site.
ALC Decision – Application to subdivide within the ALR, SD-1106 at 7623 Old Alaska Highway, A-1: agriculture large holdings and within the ALR.
It was moved and carried that the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) be advised that the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) is supportive of entering into a delegation of authority agreement with the ALC to better  manage agricultural lands within the NRRM.
Fort Nelson Community Literacy
It was unanimously carried that council support the Society Request for Commitment in Support of the society’s bid for Welcoming Communities Contract.  The NRRM committed to a partnership with the Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society for the purposes of Welcoming Communities program, should the Society be successful in its bid. And further  that, this partnership be limited to the provision of information, active engagement in discussions, and staff attendance at related events.
Development Variance Permit Application No. 1202
Sky North Aviation Fuels Ltd.
Request for variance to increase the maximum building height of a proposed hangar to be built at Northern Rockies Regional Airport lease property – 44 Astar Frontage Road. It was moved and carried that Development Variance Permit Application No. 1202 be approved to increase the maximum principal building height from 10m to 18m on the lease property at the Northern Rockies Regional Airport located at 44 Astar Road.
Budget Pre-Approval – 2013 Calgary Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show
It was unanimously approved that a budget be pre-approved in the amount of $5,500 to exhibit at the 2013 Calgary Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show, March 23rd-24th, 2013, adjusting the Tourism Marketing Budget accordingly for the operational year. It was also moved that a budget of $5,500 be pre-approved for two representatives to attend the 2013 BC Boat and Sportsmen’s Show and the BC Hunting Show in Abbotsford, March 1st-3rd, 2013.
Airport washrooms and offices
It was unanimously approved that the purchasing policy be waived and that Bird Construction be authorised to proceed with the construction of the Airport washrooms and the large airport administration office only, at a total estimated cost of $1,146,000 to be funded from the Airport Reserve Accounts.
Fire Prevention Week Event –
Domino’s Pizza
The NRRM agreed to partner with the local Domino’s Pizza franchise to deliver pizzas to the community while promoting and checking working smoke alarms in homes as part of Fire Prevention Week (FPW) on the evening of October 12th, 2012 from 6pm to 10pm.
Permissive tax exemption bylaw
• 2013 Permissive Tax Exemption that the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw was given first, second and third reading.
Fort Nelson School District #81
Re: School Community Connections  Program – for support
It was unanimously carried that School District #81 be advised that the Regional Council supports their School Community Connections Program funding application for automatic handicap door openers for four schools.
Approvals given
• Unanimous approval was given that public notification be given that Regional Council will consider Development Variance Application No. 1203 for 6812 Old Alaska  Highway at their October 22nd, 2012 meeting.
• Also that public notification be given that Regional Council will consider Development Variance Application No. 1204 for 5522 Pine Crescent at their October 22nd, 2012 meeting.
Recyclables sorting facility
• Regional Councillor Eglinski advised of the following: “Seven months ago, the Fort Nelson Social Planning Council (FNSPC) presented to Council a business plan for a sorting facility to be located in Fort Nelson. A decision was deferred until the 2012 budget process was underway.  The original request was for the following: Space at the landfill transfer site, a building with heat, power and washroom/water facilities and the ability to piggyback on some services the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality staff already provide such as liability insurance, payroll and financial management, personnel policies and procedures, and some guidance. During the annual budget meeting, Council approved $30,000 plus the use of a building that was given to the NRRM.
“Currently, the Fort Nelson Social Planning Committee has been operating on an interim basis from a privately owned shop, because of an influx in pop cans.
“There is concern that the original request was not necessarily understood and that the Fort Nelson Social Planning Committee was not looking for dollars, but more of a long term partnership between the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and themselves. The clarity of that partnership has recently come into question. The sorting facility is operated by the community and by non-profit organisations, school fund-raiser activities or individuals looking for extra  spending money.
“The  Fort Nelson Social Planning Committee is simply coordinating the sorting. This sorting facility is one of a kind and has not been tried as far as we know in any other community. It is innovative, community driven, solution focussed, ‘outside the box’ thinking and has tremendous potential. In looking at criteria in some community achievement as well as environmental awards, the project qualifies for numerous awards. I firmly believe that this project has more to offer the municipality than what the municipality has to offer it.
“Before the Fort Nelson Social Planning Committee and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality move forward, I think it is very important that both sides meet and discuss in great detail what a partnership may or may not look like. Because time is of the essence I am suggesting a meeting  sometime next week.”
Regional Council agreed to hold a special meeting with the Fort Nelson Social Planning Committee on October 18th, 2012 at 12:00 pm.
From the In-Camera meeting
• Mayor Streeper rose and reported the following reports and resolutions from the October 9th, 2012 In-Camera meeting:  “It was agreed that a NRRM Horn River Symposium not be held in 2013 and that the next Horn River Symposium be held in either the spring or fall of 2014.”
• It was unanimously carried that “a budget of $98,000 be approved for expenses associated with leasing and furnishing the property located at Lot #1, 6550 Alaska Highway for one  year, for the purposes of physician recruitment, and that a municipal vehicle be provided on an interim basis to assist in providing regular and on-call medical services.”
• It was carried unanimously “that an expression of interest be advertised for local contractors to repair/renovate the house located at 5208 Simpson Trail.”
• The council unanimously approved “that the CUPE Local 2167 Tentative Collective Agreement be ratified.”

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